Final answer:
To calculate the correct drip rate for administering lactating ringers solution over a 12-hour period using a 60 gtt/min set, convert the volume of solution to drops and use the formula: Drip rate (gtt/min) = Volume (drops) / Time (minutes).
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the drip rate for administering 550 ml of lactating ringers solution over a 12-hour period using a 60 gtt/min set, we need to convert 550 ml to drops using the drop factor. The formula to calculate the drip rate is:
Drip rate (gtt/min) = Volume (drops) / Time (minutes)
First, let's convert 550 ml to drops. The drop factor for a 60 gtt/min set is usually 10 drops/ml, so multiplying 550 ml by 10, we get 5500 drops.
Next, we can plug the values into the formula:
Drip rate (gtt/min) = 5500 drops / 720 minutes = 7.64 gtt/min
Therefore, the correct drip rate for this patient is approximately 7.64 gtt/min.